Page 8 of Darkest Sin

“No. And by announcing it in front of everyone, he’s making it impossible for me to refute it. I didn’t seize your father’s power this week because I was busy planning his funeral.”

“It’s ok. I will be ok.”

“Oh, Natalya. You may be an adult now but you’re still so naïve.”

I try not to flinch. I know my mother doesn’t mean it.

“From now on,” Denis says, “I will be in charge of the Bratva. At least my brother’s half. Thank you.” He leaves the podium and heads back to his seat. He used this moment to not reminiscent on his brother but to take power that didn’t belong to him.

A few more people speak on behalf of my father and the entire time, my mom is fuming so hard, she’s practically vibrating. I have to place my hand on her arm to calm her.

Once the service is over, my mom walks across the aisle and smacks Denis across the face before everyone to see. There’s a collective gasp in the room.

“How dare you,” she seethes.

“Someone else was going to do it. It’s better this way, Tatiana. Keep it in the family. Trust me.”

“You should have spoken to me about it.”

“You had to plan your husband’s funeral. You know, woman’s work. Leave the rest to me. As a man, I’ll easily take over my brother’s position. If you wanted it for yourself, Tatiana, then you should know: you were never going to get it.”

She looks like she wants to smack him again but takes a deep breath and composes herself. Everyone is watching. “You will not get to dictate what happens to my daughters. I get a say in who they marry.”

“See, that will not be up to you. As a matter of fact, I’ve already been thinking of who Natalya should marry. I’ll introduce her to him at the reception.”

“I get a say,” she spits. “They aremydaughters. Not yours.”

“You’re not the one in power anymore, Tatiana. You lost it the moment Lev died. Just deal with it.”

She raises her hand to hit him again but I grab her arm, stopping her.

“Let’s go,” I murmur. “You don’t want people thinking you’re hysterical.”

With a huff, she walks away from Denis.

“You should be ashamed,” I tell him in a matter of fact way.

“How so?”

“Using my father’s funeral to gain power. It’s tacky. You’ll never be able to stand up to the greatness of my dad. You just won’t.”

He blinks and then his lips purse, like he wants to say more but is holding himself back.

I motion for my sisters to follow me and we head out the door. I look around to see if the stranger is there but I don’t see him.

We all get into our private car. Our driver takes us to the reception which is being held at our house. Denis wanted to have it at his house but Mom insisted. Lev’s house was the more appropriate place to host it.

We arrive before all the other guests show up.

“I can’t believe him,” Mom seethes, pacing around the living room. “He’s going to marry you all off to men to consolidate his power.”

“But Dad wanted us to wait until we were older,” Sasha says.

“Yes, he did. But I doubt Denis wants that. Natalya is already twenty. He’s going to use you,” she says right to me. “He’s going to marry you off the first chance he gets.”

“Did Dad have anyone in mind for me?”

“A few contenders but nothing in stone. Besides, I don’t want to marry any of you off to gain power. I just won’t do it.”